H1N1 Flu and Pandemic Preparations
Autumn is a time of excitement on the Ohio State campus as students return to begin a new academic year. It’s also the beginning of flu season.
This year we have to be prepared not only for seasonal flu but for the H1N1 as well. As of August 13, the Centers for Disease Control reported there have been 477 deaths associated with the H1N1 flu and 7,511 reported hospitalizations. While health officials at the CDC and elsewhere have differing opinions on how the H1N1 flu will progress over the next six to 12 months, nearly all of them agree on the need to review and update plans for managing a possible pandemic.
The university is putting a comprehensive plan in place to minimize the spread of disease and care for the university community. A web site—flu.osu.edu—also is available to provide important information and status updates.
Health officials at Ohio State and the City of Columbus are closely monitoring the spread and mutations of the H1N1 flu. Ohio State will follow CDC guidelines and recommendations. In addition:
- Our biggest emphasis will be on prevention through education and vaccination.
- Ohio State will treat all cases of the flu as if they were H1N1.
- Students, faculty, and staff who are ill should visit their primary care physician. Those who do not have a primary doctor or need to seek medical treatment outside normal office hours should visit the university health clinic or emergency room.
Staff may be assigned individual tasks or responsibilities under the university’s comprehensive plan to minimize the spread of disease. In addition, you should:
- Be aware of your unit’s business continuity plans and the role you play in a recovery situation.
- Know your essential, standby, or alternate designation and what this means for you and your duties.
- If you have children in child care, review the facility’s policies in terms of caring for ill children.